Restaurant Performance Index declined in December as sales and customer traffic softened
As a result of softer same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) registered a moderate decline in December. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 100.5 in December, down 0.6 percent from November and the first decline in three months. Despite the decline, the RPI remained above 100 for the 10th consecutive month, which signifies expansion in the index of key industry indicators.
“The December decline in the RPI was due to a dip in the current situation indicators, which in turn was partly caused by inclement weather in large parts of the country,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the Association. “Despite the softer December results, restaurant operators remain generally optimistic about business conditions in the months ahead.”